KAPA opens after-school club to replace PAL

Karlas Academy of Performing Arts (KAPA) recently opened an after-school program. KAPAs founder, Karla Koch, formed the club to replace PAL (Police Activities League) after-school program, which was recently shutdown due to limited funding and space.

It is just like the service PAL offered, but we do have to charge, as we are not non-profit, Koch said. We have to be able to cover staff, snacks and overhead somehow.

KAPA is near Long Park, so they have access to the swings, slides and other outdoor play equipment there. They also have sports equipment like soccer balls, footballs, Frisbees, horse shoes and more, Koch said.

Koch has been in the performing arts since 1974. She was Miss Oregon 20th Century in 1985, and she has been teaching since 1981.

The studio has gotten a lot of traction, not just in Molalla. This summer, 16 KAPA dancers performed in parades at Disneyland and California Adventure.

We were beyond thrilled, Koch said.

They joined more than 600 other dancers from studios in Australia, Canada, Mexico and the United States. KAPAs students went through two days of dance workshops in the Disney dance studiosone workshop was with Dancing With The Stars judge and choreographer, Josh Horner.

Having this opportunity to represent not only Molalla, but Oregon and the United States at this event was so incredible for all of us, Koch said.